File.



PATENTED JUNE 11, 1907. D. JOHNSON.

FILE. APPLIOA'IION rnlnn mm: 13. 1908.

1: NORRIS rrrsus 0a., \VA

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FILE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 11, 1907.

Application filed June 13, 1906. Serial No. 321,474.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DUVAL JonNsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pine Bluff, in the county of Jefferson and State of Arkansas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Files, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an improvement in files, and particularly to a means whereby the commercial file of the collapsible type may be held distended or fully opened for convenience in inserting or witl idrawing the papers.

The main object of the present invention is the provision of means arranged for connection with the commercial type of file and adapted when in operative position to maintain said file in extended form, whereby to maintain the compartments of the file in fully open condition, providing for convenient access to said compartments, the construction of the device providing for an inoperative position when desired to permit the normal collapse of the file into small compass.

The invention will be described in the fol lowing specification, reference being had particularly to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective of a file illustrating the application of my improved-distender thereto, the parts being shown in operative position to maintain the file open. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same, the parts being shown in inoperative position to permit collapse of the file.

Referring particularly to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views my improved distender is designed for application to the ordinary commercial file of the collapsible type, as 1, which file, as will be understood, is of the bellows type and includes a series of compartments open at the upper end to permit the introduction of desired paper, the compartments being suitably indexed and the file proper preferably provided with a cover section 2 designed when the file is in collapsed condition to cover the open ends of the compartment.

As the normal condition of files of this character is in collapsed form, it is necessary in distributing papers throughout the various compartments of the files that the operator make use of both hands, one to hold the particular compartment open and the other to insert the paper. Owing to this necessity the filing of a large number of papers in files of this character requires a considerable time and labor, and it is with the particular view of avoiding such loss of time and labor that the present invention is devised. In providing the file with my improved distender I secure upon the rear wall of the file a plate 3, which preferably extends the full width of the file and approximately half the height of the back. The lower edge of the plate 3 is provided with a laterally extending flange 4 relatively narrow and preferably resting in contact with the bottom of the file, as clearly shown in F ig. 1. The flange 4 is formed with a longitudinally arranged slot 5 preferably extending from a point near one end of the flange to a point beyond the center thereof. A securing strip 6 is movably fixed to the flange 4 through the me dium of a bolt 7 passing through an opening in the lower end of the strip and through the slide 5, being provided beyond the plane of the flange with a thumb nut 8, whereby to provide a latch section 9, the forward or free pnd of which is bent laterally to provide a On the forward face of the file at a point about midway its length and in position to be engaged by the latch 9 is arranged a keeper 11, preferably a Ushaped strip secured by one of its arms to the file face with the second arm overlying and spaced from the first to provide for the reception of the latch 9 between them. The keeper is preferably so disposed relative to the lower edge of the file that when the distending strip 6 is swung on the pivot pin 7 the latch 9 of said strip will swing into the keeper, the lip 10 serving to prevent disengagement of the parts in one direction, as will be obvious.

In use, in the normal position of the parts, the distending strip rests in rear of the flange 4 with the latching section 9 abutting one side edge of the file, the pivot pin 7 of the distending strip having, of course, been removed longitudinally in the slot 5 to permit such position of the strip. hen it is desired to maintain the file in open or extended condition the strip 6 is swung on the pivot until disposed transverse the width of the file, the pivot pin having been moved longitudinally in the slot 5 until arranged about centrally of the flange 4. The file is manually distended and the latching section 9 engaged in the keeper 11. The file will thus be maintained in open position to provide for convenient and ready access to the pockets without the necessity of manually holding said pockets in open position, as heretofore practiced.

If desired the distending strip maybe locked in operative position against possibility of accidental movement by clamping the nut 8, as will be evident.

It is to be particularly noted that the use of the improvement adds no material weight to the ordinary file and in no way interferes with the use of the file for all ordinary purposes, the relatively small size of the parts avoiding undesirable obstruction and per mitting the file to be collapsed for storage or packing into practically the usual compass.

It is preferred that the plate 3 and distending strip be made of light ornamental metal, though it is to be understood that the use of any and all material possible for these parts is contemplated.

7 Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new, is

1. The combination with a collapsible file, and means operable independently of the movement of said file for securing said file in extended condition.

2. The combination with a collapsible file containing a series of pockets, and means operable independently of the movement of said file for securing said file extended to maintain the pockets open.

8. The combination with a collapsible file, of a strip connected with the file and movable independently thereof, said strip being adapted to be disposed transverse the width of the file to secure the file extended in accordance with the length of the strip.

4. The combination with a collapsible file,

of a strip secured thereto and movable independently thereof, said strip being adapted in one position to secure the file extended in accordance with the length of the strip.

5. The combination with a collapsible file, of a plate-secured thereto, a strip movably secured to the plate, and means carried by the file and adapted to be engaged by the free end of the strip, whereby to lock the file in extended condition.

6. The combination with a collapsible file, of a plate secured to the rear wall thereof, a strip movably secured to the plate, and a keeper secured to the front wall of the file and adapted to be engaged by the free end of the strip.

7. The combination with a collapsible file, of a plate secured to the rear wall thereof, a strip pivotally connected to the plate and formed on its free end with a latching extension, and a keeper secured to the front wall of the file and adapted to be engaged by the extension of the strip.

8. The combination with a collapsible file, of a plate secured to the rear wall thereof and formed with a laterally extending flange to underlie the bottom of the file, a strip having a pivot pin mounted for movement ina longitudinally arranged slot formed in the flange, the free end of the strip being formed with a latch extension, and a keeper secured to the front wall of the file and adapted to be engaged by the extension of the strip to secure the file extended.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DUVAL JOHNSON. WVitnesses H. T. OLooTT, J. W. TATUM. 

